Just had my first test drive today during lunch time. (VA area @ Lindsay Lexus of Alexandria) This dealer has a lot of ES350 on the lot, about 6 in front. A couple UL and Premium Plus w/ Nav. I was looking for one w/o Nav, but the sales person said they were in another lot. This was the first time at a Lexus dealer. My current car is a 2K Nissan Maxima. I have to admit, I was pretty intimidated. Sales personal acted like they didn't need your business.

Anyway, ended up driving a Premium Plus w/ Nav. It was a Moon Shell Mica... awful color. This is the 3rd time I have seen this color.... and all 3 times, I can't see why anyone would get this color... but to each it's own. So, about the test... it was incredibly smooth and effortless. Plenty of torque and power I need. I'm 6"2" and 220 lbs ... and I found the car comfortable. My co-worker came with me and he sat behind my seat and had plenty of leg space. I was really impressed with that... and he's 5"9". The seats were very comfortable and soft. The car was everything I thought it would be. I'm not planning to get one with Nav, but I was pretty impressed with the features on the Nav and the rear backup camera. I agree with other's when they say it doesn't have a lot of storage, but I'm not planning to store that much stuff in the car anyway. Wood steering wheel and walnut wood finish is "sweet". I found the center console just right for my right arm rest... that could be b/c I'm taller.

I'm still targeting to get the car by the end of the year. I'm hoping by then... the excitment will die down and discounts will be available. By then... other 2007 models will be revealed, so it may soften the ES price. I just can't see myself paying MSRP for any car.

Anyone buy an ES350 in the MD/DC/VA area and receive discounts? Please name dealer and sales person.

Cars are shipped to the dealer with the tires overinflated to prevent flatspotting, & the prep guy often forgets to deflate the tires to the tire manufacturer's specs.

You are correct, jimbres. That's exactly what happened with my car. It was riding very stiff - more so than the demo. When the tires were cold the next day, found they were at 38 psi while the door sticker recommended 30 psi. Guess the prep guy forgot as you said. (I was waiting on the car that had just come off the truck.) Deflated the tires to 32 psi, reset the tire pressure monitor (important!) and all is well. That was the only thing wrong with my car. Have had it a week now and love everything about it!

Because I felt so cramped in the ES I've started looking online at other cars again.I still might get the ES, but I'll have to take it for a much longer test drive of about 30 min.

I'm 6 ft 200 lbs but I felt cramped in the car. My right leg felt closed in by the high center console and it was claustrophobic to me.

I'm heartbroken over this because I love everything else about this car.

After looking online for cars with more room, and those with bench seats I'm now giving serious consideration to the Buick Lucerne.

No, it's nowhere near what a Lexus is but it looks very comfortable with the bench seat.I also like the fact that it has a 275 HP Northstar engine in it, plus I can actually go back to cloth seats which is what I've wanted all along.

The dash and controls aren't as nice or fancy but I can get navigation in it.

The front of the car is kind of boring Buick, but the tail end looks pretty cool.

It doesn't have a telescoping wheel so I would hope that I could still get that perfect driving position.

I can't get the top of the line because there is no bench seat in that model but I can get a CXL V8 which is very nice. The car gets decent reviews claiming it is the most agile Buick ever, but they say the braking could be better.

I will be able to save 6-10K off the price of the Lexus.

All bets are off until I actually drive it. Right now I'm a bit too ill to go check it out having some setbacks from my heart surgery earlier this month.

This is not how I wanted my car buying experience to go. I've been waiting a very long time to get a new car.

I'd like a little more excitement rather than to have to buy and old man Buick, but I'm getting to be and old man LOL!

I had a Regal years ago and I actually liked that car quite a bit, it was very comfortable.

Bobbyshred - have you tried all the adjustments on the seat to find a more comfortable sitting position. I know how long you've been looking for this car and that you even have one on order. It would be so disappointing for you not to get it. Please definitely take it for another test drive before you make a final decision.

I went to Lindsay Lexus of Alexandria in VA as well. They were terrible. The manager even said to me that all their customers are willing to pay for their luxury cars, and I should go somewhere else if I want a discount. I guess they really don't need our business. Ironically, they are very proud of their "Elite Lexus Dealer" status. I will not go there to buy my Lexus.

Don't know when they will or if they will later give discounts but I liked Al Johnson at Lexus of Silver Spring a lot. I paid sticker because I needed/wanted the car in order to give my old Infiniti to my son. They were a pleasure to deal with and do have a good reputation (Rockville does not)

I came from 6 years at a Volvo store where we would see at least one wacky color every year. At least with Lexus, all the colors are extremely nice looking. I'm surprised more people don't like the Moonshell Mica, It's basically a pewter (slight pink tint). I don't mind it. The Amber is a rich looking bronze. The only color I'm not super crazy about is the Aquamarine.

My son saw that combination at the New York auto show and said it was great looking. I wanted a lighter color so got the silver but had I not, would have really considered this one. Enjoy (been liking mine so far)

Hello ... are the roofs on ES 350s without the panorama roof the same color as the rest of the car? The only cars at my dealer are the ones with the panorama glass roof, and those roofs as you know are black. Thanks.

Actually the internet sales person I was talking to and had scheduled a test drive with... was busy when I came in. He didn't want me to want so he referred me to another sales guy. This sales person was very cockie and was not friendly at all. I'm sure he has seen a flock of people coming into test drive and maybe he knows the routine... but hey, that's your job!

Anyway... I would never give my sale to that sales person. If I was planning to come back and deal.. I would deal directly with the original person I talked to. Seemed much easier to talk to and deal with.

There are only 5 Lexus dealers in a 50 miles radius from where I live (DC/MD/VA). So, competition is fairly limited. I have even heard of people buying cars in Delaware and Pennsylvania ... then having them driven down to complete the deal. Might be another option if dealers around here won't budge on MSRP.

My Motorola E815 also works great with Verizon. I think Lexus is not promoting the Verizon phones because of the way Verizon cripples all the bluetooth features. But now with gen 5 on the navigation system, you can manually enter the phonebook info. So I think Verizon is more usable than it was before.

Just to be sure I understand, the address book on the phone will not automatically 'mate' to the car but if I input the name/phone number information manually one time, the car will hold it for the future and then function as if it had 'recognized' the phone's address book in the first place?

So it seems like the primary architect of this particular problem is Verizon, not Lexus, huh?

Yes, that's correct. Verizon is the one at fault. They are crippling all the bluetooth features in the phones to force you to pay for their services. So you cannot transfer the phonebook. I have entered my numbers in manually though and it works great. There are a lot of websites though that give instructions on how to unlock the bluetooth features of the phone using a USB data cable. I may try that one day. It just pisses me off that you buy a bluetooth phone and then can't really use all the features of it.I would stick with a Motorola E815 or Razr V3C though with the Lexus. I have read that Samsung phones are not compatible. At least we know the Motorolas work.

I have not seen red yet but look good on pc.my choice might be white /cashmere.but to me seems a decision to not make a decision for white .could you post pic .my dealers in dallas have not received a red yet. dont' like moonshell

I have the same problem with all of the cars and SUVs made today. MY LEG HITS THE CONSOLE. I can't believe it but it's true. I don't understand. I've owned a lot of cars with bucket seats, in the past, and never had a problem with the console.

Did you try the ES with the seat extender? I drove the Camry without one and the back of my leg was hurting after five minutes. It seems to me that if you get the ES it must have the seat extender.

Frankly, I'm not that thrilled with the ES 350 since I think it's just a Camry with gadgets and it doesn't really fit me that well. My wife likes it though so I'll consider it. I would get the Buick in a minute but she won't. I bet that the Buick will be just a reliable as the ES. Frankly I think that is very important. I know the Buick will be more comfortable.

I suggest you try the Infiniti M35, G35 and BMW 525 with the standard seat. I found that those fit better than the Lexus and will probably buy one of them. Those are all great driving cars. They are a lot of fun to drive. I haven't driven the ES but I bet it doesn't drive as well as those cars.

One more thing. I think that the windshield on the ES is too low. It makes me feel like I'm in a a box. The car does not fit me either. I'll tell you the truth, I don't think I like the Lexus mainly because of the console and awkward driving position.

If you find another car without the damned console problem please let me know.

Does the Nav system have Text to Speech Capability (i.e. Turn Right on Smith Street)? I don't see it listed as a feature, so I would assume it would probably have been mentioned. I would have thought that would have been implemented by now.

I was going to get the new Avalon when it came out last year and when I saw it I hated it. I think it's ugly on the outside and inside it felt really cheap to me. I didn't like the way it drove and could not find a comfortable driving position. I know, I'm very fussy.

I'm going to go back up to my Lexus dealer and take a nice long drive and really try and get used to the ES and give it a fair shot. But my gut is telling me I'm not going to choose it.

I've been through the mill in trying to choose a car in the last few years. I was simply going to get a new Camry a few years ago. But every time I drove one, then got back into my 92 Camry I didn't notice that much difference other than power.

I liked the Accord but I feel the ride was to stiff and jittery for me. I waited for the Avalon and then hated it when it came out. I drove the Buick LaCrosse but felt it was underpowered. Last fall I tried to make a deal on a Camry but they would not budge off sticker so after 6 weeks I told them to screw it.

Then I waited for the new Camry. It's a very nice car but I think it's slightly ugly and I think the interior is very feminine, even on the sport model. Then I discovered the Lexus which is how I ended up here. I think the Camry might have a slight bit more interior room and I may consider it again.Sometimes I drive my wife's Honda Pilot SUV and I think it's nice to have all that room and comfort. I even considered buying one for myself but thought it would be stupid to own two identical vehicles. Whenever we go out together we always take it.

So I started thinking about a more roomy car again. I don't want to be all jammed in like a sardine. My old man used to have Caddies and a Buick Roadmaster and while I always thought they were way too big, they were very comfortable.

I just wish more car mfrs. would consider bench seats. Not even the Chrysler 300 has them.

Honestly I wish I had bought the Toyota Avalon of 2 years ago with the bench seat.I drove it a few times and found it to be a nice car. But I blew it and didn't get one when I should have.

The only cars that I like that have the roomier bench seats are the Buick Lucerne and the Chevy Impala. The Impala is OK, but I want more luxury.

My brain seems to be set on the Lucerne right now but I know it all depends upon test drives and I know I could be disappointed. I want luxury, lots of room, but I still want the power to get around the slower driver effortlessly without hesitation and too much body roll.

I'm hoping next week I can try out the Lucerne. I don't have my own vehicle now. I have to get something soon. I never thought buying my first new car would be this hard.

I'm still glad all you people are getting the Lexus ES. It is a great car, my sister may now get one. By the way I think that moonshell mica is vomit inducing! To each his own.